HISTOLOGY OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Kanda Bagaskara
BESP 2021, Universitas Negeri Medan

ABSTRACT
The female reproductive organs consist of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina.
The ovary is an organ that functions to produce egg cells. This ovary is connected to the uterus
through a tube called the fallopian tube which serves to capture the egg. If the egg is not fertilized
then along with the tissue that forms in the uterine wall will be shed and released as menstruation.
Menstruation is influenced by several hormones such as FSH, estrogen, progesterone, and
testosterone The uterus at birth has not yet developed. However, at a certain age the body will
secrete gonadotropic hormones as follicle stimulators and luteinizing hormone which stimulates
the ovaries. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), stimulates the primordial follicles which in their
journey secrete the hormone estrogen for the growth of secondary sex characteristics. At first only
the hormone estrogen is dominant and bleeding (menstruation) will occur for the first time.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this paper is to understand further about the histological structure of female
reproductive organs. In addition, this paper is made as a remedy of pretest in Histological Structure
of female Reproductive Organs Practicum in Animal Development Course under the guidance of
Muhammad Tri Atmaja Hartanta as Laboratory Assistant.

METHOD
The method used to make this paper is library research. This method is conducted by reading
books, journals, modules, etc. to collect various information.

DISCUSSION
The female reproductive system based on its anatomical location is divided into two parts,
namely the external genitalia and the internal genitalia. The external genitalia are the parts that can
be seen from the outside (Fig. II.1). The external genitalia in women consist of the mons pubis,
labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vestibule, hymen, vaginal opening, urethral opening and
perineum. The internal genitalia are parts that are inside the female pelvic space and cannot be
seen from the outside. The internal genitalia consist of: Ovaries (ovaries), fimbriae, fallopian tubes
(oviducts), uterus (womb) and Vagina.

The vagina is a musculo-membranous tube that connects the uterus to the vulva. The vagina
functions as a means of sexual intercourse, the birth canal during childbirth and the channel for
removing mucus or blood during menstruation? The ovaries are glands located on the right and left
of the uterus that are bound behind by the broad ligament of the uterus. The ovaries of an adult
female are about the size of a thumb, about 4 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The ovaries function to
produce ova (egg cells) and female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen serves
to maintain the nature of Female secondary sex and helps the process of maturation of ovum cells,
while Progesterone plays a role in maintaining pregnancy.

The mature ovum is released from the ovary and is captured by the fimbriae and then passes
through the fallopian tube. The fallopian tube serves as a site of fertilization and a pathway for the
ovum to reach the uterus. The uterus or uterus is a hollow, muscular organ that is shaped like a
pear with a tapering bottom. The uterus has three types of wall layers, namely the perimetrium
(outermost layer) which serves to protect the uterus, the myometrium whose layer is rich in muscle
cells that can contract and relax by widening and returning to its original shape, then the innermost
layer is the endometrium which functions as a growth site. Embryo if the egg is fertilized and will
shed every month if it is not fertilized which is better known as menstruation. Then the lower part
of the uterus is called the cervix or cervix which connects the uterus with the vagina.
The next part is the cervix, cervix is part of the female reproductive system which is located
at the front end of the uterus that connects the vagina and uterus. The cervix forms the inferior part
of the uterus, is shaped like a broad cylinder, 2-3.5 cm long with a narrow channel in the middle
called the canal. At birth, the cervix is usually covered by squamous or stratified squamous
epithelium. But over time, due to ovarian steroid hormone factors, it will cause the addition,
maturation, and release of these epithelial cells continuously which causes the formation of new
epithelium. Histologically, the uterine cervix is composed of stratified squamous epithelium,
ciliated simple columnar epithelium and a transitional area between the two epithelia called the
squamo-columnar axis (SCS) or transformation zone (Fig. 114). Stratified squamous epithelium is
the epithelium that lines the ectocervix. The ectocervical epithelium has several layers. In the lower
layer there is a basal layer bordered by connective tissue (stroma). This basal layer plays an
important role because its function is to regenerate cells that will grow upwards and then become
mature squamous epithelial cells. Above the basal layer, sequentially from bottom to top there is a
layer of parabasal cells, intermediate cells, superficial cells, and a sloughed layer. The endocervix
is lined by ciliated simple columnar epithelium which one of its main functions is to produce
secretions. Secretions will result from the influence of the hormone estrogen. There will be a lot
of secretions produced during the ovulation phase, while during the luteal phase the production
will decrease. The endocervical epithelium has layers of connective tissue (stroma), basement
membrane, and columnar epithelium composed of a single layer of mucin (Fig. IL6). Between the
squamous epithelium and columnar epithelium there is a bridge or connection called the squamous
columnar junction (SSK).

The most important part of the female reproductive organ is the ovary, The almond-shaped
ovary is usually located near the attachment of the broad ligament to the lateral wall of the pelvis,
is separated from both organs by peritoneal folds, which separates the mesovarium from the
posterosuperior portion of the broad ligament, and separates the suspensory ligament of the ovary
from the pelvic wall. The ovary Is attached to the uterus by means of the ovarian ligament, which
runs within the mesovarium. This ligament is a remnant of the superior ovarian gubernaculum of
the fetus and connects the proximal (uterine) end of the ovary to the lateral angle of the uterus, to
the interior of its entry. Because the ovary is in the peritoneal cavity and its surface is not covered
by peritoneum, the oocytes released during ovulation pass through the peritoneal cavity but are
usually still trapped in the fimbriae of the uterine tube and are carried to the ampulla.

CONCLUSION
The reproductive system includes organs that are divided into internal and external
genitalia, glands and reproductive tract. The primary reproductive organs consist of a pair of testes
in males and a pair of ovaries in females. Mature gonads function to produce gametes
(gametogenesis) and produce sex hormones, especially testosterone in males and estrogen &
progesterone in females. After the gametes are produced by the gonads, they will then pass through
the reproductive tract (ductal system).

REFERENCES

Johnson, M. and Everitt B. 1988. Essential Reproduction third edition, Blackwell Scientifik
Publication
Carola, R.,J.P. Harley and C.R. Naobeck.1990. Human Anatomy and Physiologi. Mc. Graw-Hill
Publishing Company. New York.